Marblehead was buzzing over the Fourth of July holiday weekend with thousands of people packing the streets for the 58th Festival of Arts. From exhibits and live music, to monsters and a model boat regatta, the 2024 Festival attracted big crowds. Oh, and don’t forget about the pythons and boa constrictor.
The snakes (read more below) were new this year, along with a 10K walk/race that was added to the 5K started last year.
Also new: a vintage soda machine filled with small, more affordable pieces of art.
“It’s been really well received,” said Festival Art and Exhibits Director Meaghan Perlow, about the vending machine. “Seeing the younger kids try to operate a vintage soda machine has been a blast. [There are] lots of happy new art collectors of their tiny art today.”
People viewed nearly 1,000 pieces of art at six venues and, as always, the Concerts @ Crocker Park had people laying out their picnic blankets and enjoying music and harbor views. The program featured 15 acts over four nights and three days.
“We had a tremendous turnout this year,” said Brian Wheeler, who oversees all the performing arts events at the Festival. “We loved the tremendous support we got from the town.”
Robert de Saint Phalle of Marblehead brought his extended family to the Festival and waited in line for an hour for the St. Michael’s Lobster Lunch.
“We always come. It’s a tradition,” he said after finishing his lobster roll. “It’s something we can do with our community.”
“We always see someone we know,” added Zoe Culbertson from across the table.
Eric Piatelli was carrying his 2-year-old son, Teddy, at the Street Fair. They were checking out the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team’s exhibit with 30 live snakes.
“He’s loving it,” Piatelli said. “His mom is waiting in line for the balloon animals. We’re going to the Model Boat Regatta, too. We love the Festival. Everything is right downtown, closed off and safe.”
Each year, it takes about 400 volunteers to plan, coordinate and run the Festival.
Jodi-Tatiana Charles has been Festival president for the last two years.
“We’ve enriched and evolved our time-honored traditions at the Marblehead Festival,” she told the Current. “It’s been amazing to see so many families enjoying the arts while juggling their little ones, and the global presence of visitors at our events has been phenomenal.
She continued, “To watch our businesses thriving because we all showed up is also incredibly satisfying and inspiring. We truly had something for everyone — who would have imagined so many people falling in love with snakes!”
